Don’t fuel terror, Jaishankar warns Poland on Pakistan ties
External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Monday delivered a firm message to Poland, urging it to show “zero tolerance” towards terrorism and not contribute in any manner to fuelling terrorist infrastructure in India’s neighbourhood, even as the two sides reviewed the expanding India-Poland strategic partnership. Jaishankar made the remarks during talks with Radoslaw Sikorski, Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, who is on a three-day visit to India. The comments were widely seen as a pointed reference to a Poland-Pakistan joint statement issued in October last year that mentioned Kashmir.
“You are no stranger to our region and are certainly familiar with the longstanding challenge of cross-border terrorism,” Jaishankar said in his televised opening remarks. “Poland should display zero tolerance for terrorism and not help fuel the terrorist infrastructure in our neighbourhood.”
The external affairs minister also reiterated India’s discomfort over what he described as “selective targeting” of New Delhi in the context of the Ukraine conflict, a veiled reference to criticism by some Western countries over India’s energy ties with Russia. Jaishankar said he had conveyed India’s position candidly to Sikorski in earlier interactions in New York and Paris and underlined once again that such selective scrutiny was “unfair and unjustified”.
Responding to Jaishankar’s remarks, Sikorski said he agreed with India on the issue of “unfairness” and “selective targeting”, particularly in the context of tariffs and trade pressures linked to India’s relations with Russia.
Beyond the sharp exchanges, the meeting also focused on consolidating the broader India-Poland relationship, which was elevated to a strategic partnership during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Poland in August 2024. Jaishankar said both sides would review the Action Plan 2024-28 to unlock the full potential of the partnership.
The two leaders discussed expanding cooperation in trade and investment, defence and security, clean technologies and digital innovation. Jaishankar noted that Poland has emerged as one of India’s largest trading partners in Central Europe, with bilateral trade touching about $7 billion and growing nearly 200% over the past decade. Indian investments in Poland have crossed $3 billion, generating significant employment opportunities, he said.
People-to-people and cultural ties also figured prominently in the discussions. Jaishankar recalled the enduring legacy of the “Dobry Maharaj” - Maharaja Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji Jadeja of Nawanagar - who sheltered Polish children during World War II, calling it a cherished bond between the two nations. He also highlighted the popularity of yoga and the continued strength of Indology studies in Poland.Sikorski’s visit comes days ahead of a high-level visit by the European Union leadership to India, adding diplomatic weight to the engagement.
